Enhanced variable power zoom lens

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to provide an enhanced variable power zoom lens that is lightweight as a whole, and especially, has its focusing lens optics reduced in weight so as to relieve of a load on a focusing drive system, and that has its anti-vibration lens optics reduced in both diameter and weight so as to relieve of a load on an anti-vibration drive system and downsize the same. The enhanced variable power zoom lens is adapted to have the foremost or first lens group of positive refractivity, the second lens group of negative refractivity, the third lens group of positive refractivity, the fourth lens group of negative refractivity, and the fifth lens group arranged in this sequence from a position closer to the object where a distance between each pair of the adjacent lens groups is varied during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, each lens group comes closer to the object at the telephoto end than at the wide-angle end, the third lens group and the fourth lens group separating the farthest apart from each other at the intermediate zooming range, and the fourth lens group is moved closer to the image plane for shifting from infinity focusing to proximity focusing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a compact and enhanced variable power zoom lens having a zoom ratio of 10× or even greater and an angle of view of 75 degrees or even wider at the wide-angle end, which is suitable for use in 35 mm cameras, video cameras, electronic still cameras, and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

As one example of prior art focusing systems for a zoom lens, an upfront lens focusing system is well-known in the art where the foremost group of lens pieces positioned the closest to the object to photograph is displaced for focusing. When designed in an application of an auto-focusing zoom lens, the upfront lens focusing zoom lens must have its large and heavy foremost lens group moved along the optical axis, and this makes it difficult to achieve instantaneous focusing.

In order to overcome the aforementioned disadvantage, inner and rear focusing systems that force the second foremost lens group and/or the further succeeding one(s) are to be displaced instead have come to be known. Employing the inner or rear focusing system brings about a successful result in achieving an instantaneous auto focusing zoom lens of which focusing lens groups can be generally down-sized and reduced in weight so as to reduce the load on an actuating motor for an auto focusing mechanism.

On the other hand, there generally arises a problem with such an enhanced variable power zoom lens that user's hands are liable to shake during photographing at the telephoto end. In order to avoid the adverse effect on the resultant image due to a shake of photographer's hands, a variety of methods have been devised for displacing part of the lens optics in an approximately perpendicular direction to the optical axis so that rays imaged on light receptor are shifted on the same, thereby canceling an image blur due to a shake of hands of the photographer.

It is also strongly desired that the enhanced variable power zoom lens is compact so as not to spoil user's convenience.

Especially, some digital single lens reflex cameras having the state-of-the-art live view feature carry out contrast auto-focusing, namely, bring rays into focus by wobbling. Hence, the greater weight of the focusing lens group(s) should requires the larger actuator to displace the focusing lens group(s), which results in the focusing systems becoming bulky as a whole; and therefore, it is strongly desirable that the focusing lens group(s) is reduced in weight.

Further developed has been a compact, high performance, and enhanced variable power zoom lens which has lens groups respectively of positive, negative, positive, and positive refractive powers arranged in order for zooming; and this prior art enhanced variable power zoom lens, when attached to a lens-exchangeable digital single lens reflex camera with an APS-C size image sensor built in, attains angle of view as wide as 76 degrees that is equivalent to 28 mm in a single lens reflex camera dedicated for 35 mm film, and zoom ratio as high as 7×, and has back focal equivalent to that of a lens-exchangeable single lens reflex camera (e.g., see Patent Document 1 listed below).

Some other prior art enhanced variable power zoom lens developed so far includes a photographing lens that has anti-vibration function and improved performance and that has lens groups respectively of positive, negative, negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive powers for zooming or otherwise positive, negative, negative, positive, positive refractive powers for the same purpose where the third foremost lens group is used for focusing while the fifth lens group is dedicated to anti-vibration operation; and its variable magnification power is super-enhanced to such an extent of being as high as approximately 12× without compromising a capability of inner-focusing to photograph a proximal object (e.g., see Patent Document 2).

Still another prior art enhanced variable power zoom lens is the one that is as high as 10× in zoom ratio and that has lens groups respectively of positive, negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive powers for zooming; that is, the lens groups consists of at least the 1st lens group G1 of positive refractivity, the 2nd lens group G2 of negative refractivity, the 3rd lens group G3 of positive refractivity, the 4th lens group G4 of negative refractivity, and the 5th lens group G5 of positive refractivity arranged in order from a position closer to the object where as the photographing mode is shifted from the wide-angle to the telephoto to vary the magnification power, the 1st lens group G1 and the 2nd lens group G2 spread farther apart from each other, the 2nd lens group G2 and the 3rd lens group G3 come closer to each other, the 3rd lens group G3 and the 4th lens group G3 also spread farther apart from each other, and the 4th lens group G4 and the 5th lens group G5 come closer to each other (e.g., see Patent Document 3).

Further another prior art enhanced variable power zoom lens is the one that consists of four lens groups, namely, the 1st lens group to the 4th lens group respectively having positive, negative, positive, and positive refractive powers in sequence from a position closer to the object; and the 1st and 2nd lens groups separate farther away from each other so as to vary the magnification power from the wide-angle to the telephoto while concurrently the 3rd lens group axially moves to compensate for variation in the image plane in association with varying the magnification power, and the 2nd lens group moves orthogonal to the optical axis and simultaneously makes a minute turn about a single point on the optical axis within or near the 2nd lens group to compensate for a blur of the image; i.e., provided is a method in which the primary power-varying lens group in the positive lead type zoom lens, namely, the 2nd lens group of negative refractivity serves as an anti-vibration lens and moves orthogonal to the optical axis (e.g., see Patent Document 4).

Yet another prior art enhanced variable power zoom lens is the one with the 2nd lens group comprising lens subsets one of which, namely, a non-focusing lens subset 2 a serves as an anti-vibration lens; and this zoom lens is compact since displacement of its focusing lens group is not extremely increased during focusing (e.g., see Patent Document 5). The enhanced variable power zoom lens has the 1st lens group of positive refractivity, the 2nd lens group of negative refractivity, and one or more succeeding lens groups of positive refractivity as a whole arranged in sequence from a position closer to one conjugate point as the origin of a longer half of a conjugate distance upon varying the magnification power from the wide-angle to the telephoto, the 1st and 2nd lens groups separate farther apart from each other while the 2nd lens group and the succeeding lens group(s) come closer to each other; and the 2nd lens group comprises lens subsets, namely, the lens subset 2 a of negative refractivity and another lens subset 2 b of negative refractivity closer to the other conjugate point as the terminal point of a shorter half of the conjugate distance than the lens subset 2 a so that the lens subset 2 b is dedicated to focusing under specific relative conditions among the focal length at the wide-angle end, the focal length at the telephoto end, and the focal length of the lens subset 2 a.

Furthermore, there is another prior art enhanced variable power zoom lens of the reduced variation in image magnification ratio for focusing, which has the 1st lens group of positive refractive power, the 2nd lens group of negative refractive power, and the succeeding two or more lens groups arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object where all the lens groups axially move during zooming so as to vary a distance between any pair of the adjacent lens groups while the second rearmost lens group closer to the image plane axially move for focusing (e.g., see Embodiment 7 in Patent Document 6 listed below). The enhanced variable power zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 6 has the downsized focusing and anti-vibration lens groups although it still attains an enhanced zoom ratio as high as 10×.

LIST OF CITED DOCUMENTS OF THE RELATED ART

Patent Document 1—Preliminary Publication of Unexamined Patent Application No. 2005-331697;

Patent Document 2—Preliminary Publication of Unexamined Patent Application No. 2003-329933;

Patent Document 3—Preliminary Publication of Unexamined Patent Application No. H10-0133109;

Patent Document 4—Preliminary Publication of Unexamined Patent Application No. H05-0232410;

Patent Document 5—Preliminary Publication of Unexamined Patent Application No. 2000-028923; and

Patent Document 6—Preliminary Publication of Unexamined Patent Application No. 2009-265652.

In the enhanced variable power zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the 2nd lens group serves as a focusing lens and consists of five lens pieces, the focusing lens is heavy and increases in variation of the image magnification ratio, and this is undesirable for the contrast-detect automatic focusing.

In the enhanced variable power zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 2, the 3rd lens group consisting of two lens pieces serves as a focusing lens and realizes weight reduction of a kind, but the focusing lens of approximately 10 grams is still heavy and insufficient in weight reduction demanded for the focusing lens. In order to further reduce weight, the 5th lens group is dedicated to anti-vibration, and this attempt still fails to attain sufficient weight reduction. The zoom lens configured in this manner is also hard to have the increased optical performance including an ability to compensate for optical aberrations.

In the enhanced variable power zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 3, the 3rd lens group consisting of three lens pieces serves as a focusing lens, and the focusing lens is 10 grams or even heavier, which is unsatisfactory in an application directed to contract-detect automatic focusing. It is also unacceptable as a compact and enhanced variable power zoom lens.

In the enhanced variable power zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 4, the 2nd lens group of negative refractive power is suitable for serving as an anti-vibration lens because of the reduced development of comatic aberration upon moving eccentrically. However, the 2nd lens group in the enhanced variable power zoom lens essentially consists of four or more lens pieces, and thus, the zoom lens is disadvantageous in that it is hard to downsize the anti-vibration mechanism.

In the enhanced variable power zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 5, the lens subset 2 a must have the increased lens diameter to obtain a sufficient quantity of light around the image plane at the wide-angle end, and thus, the zoom lens is disadvantageous in that it is hard to downsize the anti-vibration mechanism.

In the enhanced variable power zoom lens (Embodiment 7) disclosed in Patent Document 6, the 3rd lens group of negative refractivity consisting of two lens pieces serves as an anti-vibration lens, and the anti-vibration lens is reduced in weight. However, since the lens group closer to the object than the aperture stop is used to correct a blur of the image due to a shake of photographer's hands and thus of the camera, it encounters a difficulty in inhibiting varied astigmatism during stabilizing the image against the camera shake, and thus, the optical performance of the zoom lens during image stabilizing operation is unsatisfactory. In addition, since the zoom lens has a filter of a large diameter and has six lens groups respectively of positive, negative, negative, positive, negative, and negative refractive powers for zooming, the zoom lens is disadvantageous in that it is hard to provide a compact lens barrel.

The present invention is made to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages in the prior art enhanced variable power zoom lens, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide the improved enhanced variable power zoom lens that is lightweight as a whole, and especially, has its focusing lens optics reduced in weight so as to relieve of a load on a focusing drive system, and that has its anti-vibration lens optics reduced in both diameter and weight so as to relieve of a load on an anti-vibration drive system and downsize the same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide the improved enhanced variable power zoom lens that is upgraded in optical capability of compensating for aberrations and in performance as represented by the reduced variation in image magnification ratio during focusing as well as facile handling and manipulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an enhanced variable power zoom lens that is adapted to have the first lens group G1 of positive refractivity, the second lens group G2 of negative refractivity, the third lens group G3 of positive refractivity, the fourth lens group G4 of negative refractivity, and the fifth lens group G5 arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object where a distance between each pair of the adjacent lens groups is varied during zooming from the wide-angle to the telephoto where each lens group comes closer to the object at the telephoto than at the wide-angle, the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4 separate the farthest apart from each other at the intermediate zooming range, and the fourth lens group G4 is moved closer to the image plane for focusing on from the infinity to an proximal object.

The enhanced variable power zoom lens according to the present invention is configured as mentioned above so as to reduce weight in whole and in part, especially, having its focusing lens optics lightened to relieve of a load on a focusing drive system and having its anti-vibration lens optics reduced in both diameter and weight to relieve of a load on an anti-vibration drive system, thereby attaining the downsizing of the anti-vibration drive system.

In accordance with the present invention, the enhanced variable power zoom lens is upgraded in optical capability of correcting aberrations and in performance to attain the reduced variation in image magnification ratio during focusing as well as facile handling and manipulation, and is capable of producing a clear image with the reduced effects of the optical aberrations.

Some aspects of the present invention will be outlined. First, several common articles of the present invention in these aspects will be discussed.

The enhanced variable power zoom lens generally has the foremost or first lens group G1 of positive refractivity, the second lens group G2 of negative refractivity, the third lens group G3 of positive refractivity, the fourth lens group G4 of negative refractivity, and the fifth lens group G5 arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object.

During zooming from the wide-angle to the telephoto, each pair of the adjacent lens groups come apart from or closer to each other, and each lens group move closer to the object at the telephoto than at the wide-angle. Designed to take such optical posture and behavior for zooming, the zoom lens at the wide-angle end can be compact although it still provides an angle of view of 75 degrees or wider and a zoom ratio of 10× or even higher.

The third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4 separate the farthest away from each other at the intermediate zooming range. Designed to take such optical posture for zooming, the zoom lens is able to compensate for distortion of the imaging plane at the intermediate zooming range.

Also, for focusing on from the infinity to the proximal object, the fourth lens group G4 moves toward the image plane. With a design where the fourth lens group G4 of negative refractivity, which is positioned right behind the third lens group G3 of positive refractivity and closer to the image filed, serves as a focusing lens, it is facilitated to reduce an outer lens diameter of the focusing lens.

The third lens group G3 includes separate subsets of lens pieces, namely, the foremost lens subset G3A of positive refractivity, the second foremost lens subset G3B of positive refractivity, and the succeeding lens subset G3C arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object. The lens subset G3B of lens pieces 3B is moved orthogonal to the optical axis to correct an imaging position against a shake of photographer's hands. With a design where the lens subset G3B, which is positioned right behind the lens subset G3A of lens pieces 3A of positive refractivity and closer to the image plane, serves as an anti-vibration lens, it becomes possible to avoid the necessity of having the anti-vibration lens of the increased diameter.

The lens subset G3B of lens pieces 3B includes a composite lens of positive and negative lens pieces arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object. Configured in this manner, the zoom lens becomes lightweight and is capable of compensating for variation in chromatic aberration well upon correcting an image blur due to a shake of photographer's hands. A front surface of the foremost one of the lens pieces 3B, the closest to the object in the lens subset G3B, is aspherical. Configured in this manner, the zoom lens is capable of compensating for variation in spherical and comatic aberrations well upon correcting an image blur due to a shake of photographer's hands.

During zooming, the third lens group G3 and the fifth lens group G5 move along the same cam structure. A design to make the third and fifth lens groups G3 and G5 displace by the same distance enables these lens groups to be integrated in a single unit. The lens groups integrated in the single unit in this manner also permits the cam structure to be simplified, which brings about reduction in the maximum diameter of the lens barrel. In addition, the third and fifth lens groups G3 and G5 experience minimized eccentricity to each other, and this results in degradation of the optical performance due to fabrication tolerance being avoided as much as possible.

The present invention in several aspects will be stated below:

(1) The fifth lens group G5 has positive refractive power. In one aspect of the invention, an entrance pupil positioned increasingly closer to the object leads to a greater telecentric effect, and this effectively prevents incident beams from falling upon light receptors/beam receiving elements in imbalanced positions.

(2) In another aspect of the present invention, the zoom lens meet requirements as expressed in the following formulae:

0.7<f3/fw<2.0   (1)

0.07<|f4|/ft<0.3   (2)

where f3 is a focal length of the third lens group, f4 is the focal length of the fourth lens group, fw is the focal length of the entire optics at the wide-angle end, and ft is the focal length of the entire optics at the telephoto end.

In this aspect of the present invention, when f3/fw exceeds the lower limit defined in the formula (1), the zoom lens has its focusing lens advantageously downsized, but instead, encounters difficulty in compensating for various types of aberration such as comatic aberration. When f3/fw exceeds the upper limit, the zoom lens can advantageously compensate for aberration, but instead becomes hard to downsize the focusing lens.

When |f4|/ft exceeds the lower limit, an actuator is advantageously downsized, but instead, it is hard to compensate for the aberration. When |f4|/ft exceeds the upper limit, the zoom lens can advantageously compensate for aberration, but instead has a displacement of the lens optics increased for focusing, which leads to an increase in dimensions of the actuator. Allowing for all the above, in this aspect of the invention, a clear image with the reduced aberration can be effectively produced.

(3) In another aspect of the present invention, the third lens group G3 has a composite lens in a position the closest to the image plane, a composition interface of the composite lens being a divergent surface; and the zoom lens meets a requirement as expressed in the following formula:

n1−n2>0.25   (3)

where n1 is a refractive index of a negative lens piece of the composite lens at d-line, and n2 is a refractive index of a positive lens piece of the composite lens at d-line.

In this aspect of the invention, when (n1−n2) becomes lower to such an extent of exceeding the lower limit as defined in the formula (3), the third lens group G3 is, upon proximity focusing, likely to lose performability to adjust imaging with more striking positive spherical aberration to such an extent of encountering difficulty in compensating for the spherical aberration. Thus, when it meets the requirement, the zoom lens can effectively produce a clear image with the reduced aberration.

(4) In still another aspect of the present invention, the fourth lens group G4 has a composite lens consisting of a positive lens piece and a negative lens piece, having at least one of surfaces shaped aspherical.

In this aspect, the fourth lens group G4 with the lens piece having at least one of its major surfaces made aspherical is capable of inhibiting well from varying in spherical aberration and comatic aberration throughout the entire range of an object distance. Thus, configured in this manner, the zoom lens can effectively produce a clear image with the reduced aberration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a zoom lens according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 a illustrates graphs of various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the first embodiment at the wide-angle end for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 2 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the first embodiment at the wide-angle end for zooming is in proximity focus.

FIG. 3 a illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the first embodiment at the intermediate range for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 3 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the first embodiment at the intermediate range for zooming is in proximity focus.

FIG. 4 a illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the first embodiment at the telephoto end for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 4 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the first embodiment at the telephoto end for zooming is in proximity focus.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the zoom lens according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 a illustrates graphs of various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the second embodiment at the wide-angle end for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 6 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the second embodiment at the wide-angle end for zooming is in proximity focus.

FIG. 7 a illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the second embodiment at the intermediate range for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 7 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the second embodiment at the intermediate range for zooming is in proximity focus.

FIG. 8 a illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the second embodiment at the telephoto end for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 8 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the second embodiment at the telephoto end for zooming is in proximity focus.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the zoom lens according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 a illustrates graphs of various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the third embodiment at the wide-angle end for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 10 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the third embodiment at the wide-angle end for zooming is in proximity focus.

FIG. 11 a illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the third embodiment at the intermediate range for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 11 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the third embodiment at the intermediate range for zooming is in proximity focus.

FIG. 12 a illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the third embodiment at the telephoto end for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 12 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the third embodiment at the telephoto end for zooming is in proximity focus.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the zoom lens according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 a illustrates graphs of various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the fourth embodiment at the wide-angle end for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 14 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the fourth embodiment at the wide-angle end for zooming is in proximity focus.

FIG. 15 a illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the fourth embodiment at the intermediate range for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 15 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the fourth embodiment at the intermediate range for zooming is in proximity focus.

FIG. 16 a illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the fourth embodiment at the telephoto end for zooming is in infinity focus.

FIG. 16 b illustrates graphs of the various types of aberration when the zoom lens of the fourth embodiment at the telephoto end for zooming is in proximity focus.

BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in conjunction with embodiments, referring to the accompanying drawings.

In discussing each embodiment, the term ‘aspherical surface or aspheric’ means a surface or state as expressed by the following formula:

$\begin{matrix} {x = {\frac{\frac{H^{2}}{r}}{1 + \sqrt{1 - {\left( {1 + k} \right)\left( \frac{H}{r} \right)^{2}}}} + {A_{4}H^{4}} + {A_{6}H^{6}} + {A_{8}H^{8}} + {A_{10}H^{10}}}} & (4) \end{matrix}$

where x is the optical axis, H is a height from the optical axis in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis, r is a paraxial radius of curvature, k is a coefficient of the cone, and An is a factor of the aspherical surface raised to the n-th power.

Embodiment 1

A first embodiment of an enhanced variable power zoom lens consists of the foremost or first lens group G1 of positive refractivity, the second lens group G2 of negative refractivity, the third lens group G3 of positive refractivity, the fourth lens group G4 of negative refractivity, and the fifth lens group G5 of positive refractivity arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object.

The first lens group G1 consists of a composite lens of a negative meniscus lens piece L1 having its convex surface directed toward the object and a double-convex lens piece L2, and a positive meniscus lens L3 having its convex surface directed toward the object.

The second lens group G2 consists of a negative meniscus lens L4 having its convex surface directed toward the object, a double-concave lens L5, a double-convex lens L6, and a negative meniscus lens L7 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane. The negative meniscus lens L4 positioned the closest to the object of all the lens pieces in the second lens group G2 is a composite aspherical lens having its glass surface closer to the object superposed with resin layer and shaped in aspherical surface.

An aperture stop is positioned right ahead of the foremost lens piece in the third lens group G3. A design with the aperture stop positioned closer to the object than the third lens group G3 facilitates reduction in diameter of the upfront lens of the zoom lens.

The third lens group G3 consists of a double-convex lens L8, a negative meniscus lens L9 having its convex surface directed toward the object, a composite lens consisting of a double-convex lens piece L10 and a negative meniscus lens piece L11 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane, and a composite lens consisting of a negative meniscus lens piece L12 having its convex surface directed toward the object and a double-convex lens piece L13 arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object. The double-convex lens L8, positioned the closest to the object, of all the lens pieces in the third lens group G3 is a glass molded aspherical lens that has both the front and rear major surfaces made aspherical in shape. The double-convex lens piece L10 is a glass molded aspherical lens that has its front major surface made aspheric in shape. Correcting an image blur due to a shake of photographer's hands is conducted by moving the composite lens of the double-convex lens piece L10 and the negative meniscus lens piece L11 in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

The fourth lens group G4 consists of a positive meniscus lens L14 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane and a double-concave lens L15 arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object. The double-concave lens L15, positioned the closest to the image plane, of all the lens pieces in the fourth lens group G4 is a composite aspherical lens that has its rear surface made aspherical in shape.

The fifth lens group G5 consists of a double-convex lens L16 closer to the object and a negative meniscus lens L17 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane.

The zoom lens of the first embodiment is implemented under conditions as expressed by the numerical data as follows:

f=18.4671 to 193.7966

F No.=3.58 to 6.47

2ω=78.47 to 8.20

The zoom lens of the first embodiment is represented by the factors, namely, radius of curvature r, thickness (distance between lens surfaces) d, refractive indices, nd and vd, as given as follows (any surface number with a suffix of an asterisk (*) is for an aspherical surface):

Surface Number r d nd vd Object Plane ∞ (d0)  1 140.6286 1.5000 1.90366 31.31  2 72.7778 7.2029 1.49700 81.61  3 −395.7178 0.2000  4 61.5306 5.5571 1.61800 63.39  5 221.7716 (d5)   6* 90.6266 0.2000 1.51460 49.96  7 60.6266 1.2000 1.90366 31.31  8 13.8208 7.5749  9 −21.7485 0.9000 1.83481 42.72 10 240.9339 0.2000 11 52.2290 3.5618 1.92286 20.88 12 −28.3941 1.5245 13 −17.8390 0.8000 1.83481 42.72 14 −33.0000 (d14) 15 ∞ 1.0000 (Aperture Stop)  16* 18.4782 4.0353 1.61881 63.85  17* −48.5651 0.7167 18 41.8835 0.9000 1.77250 49.62 19 22.8773 2.9125  20* 33.2873 3.3000 1.59201 67.02 21 −25.5242 0.8000 1.84666 23.78 22 −41.3225 0.5260 23 265.5713 0.8000 1.90366 31.31 24 14.7745 4.4219 1.51742 52.15 25 −21.3443 (d25) 26 −1799.6857 2.2000 1.72825 28.32 27 −20.2692 0.7000 1.69680 55.46 28 16.8599 0.2500 1.51460 49.96  29* 18.1394 (d29) 30 24.6924 4.7278 1.48749 70.44 31 −34.7332 0.5818 32 −25.1727 1.0000 1.83481 42.72 33 −195.8334 (BF)

The zoom lens of the first embodiment has the aspheric surfaces each of which is characterized by a coefficient as given below:

Surface Number k A4 A6 A8 A10 6 0.0000 2.00246E−05 −4.07575E−08 1.35108E−10 2.54007E−13 16 −1.6765 1.73663E−05 −1.78587E−09 1.55565E−09 5.28154E−12 17 0.0000 4.00586E−05 −8.57830E−08 2.49011E−09 −1.89872E−13 20 0.0000 −1.59299E−05 4.84995E−08 −1.30605E−09 9.03492E−12 29 0.0000 −2.10416E−05 1.08897E−07 −6.52540E−09 5.29800E−11

The zoom lens of the first embodiment, when in infinity focus, has the lens surfaces of the lens pieces variably distanced as follows:

Wide-angle End Intermediate Range Telephoto End f 18.4671 69.9995 193.7966 d0 ∞ ∞ ∞ d5 1.0000 34.0712 64.3105 d14 25.4255 6.3450 1.7000 d25 1.4000 4.7187 1.4999 d29 9.5946 6.2759 9.4947 BF 18.3076 40.0562 53.5093

The zoom lens of the first embodiment, when in proximity focus (i.e., upon proximity photographing as close as 0.5 meters to the object), has the lens surfaces of the lens pieces variably distanced as follows:

Wide-angle End Intermediate Range Telephoto End f 18.1576 60.2317 105.9540 d0 384.9800 349.2410 310.1970 d5 1.0000 34.0712 64.3105 d14 25.4255 6.3450 1.7000 d25 1.6487 6.5210 9.1651 d29 9.3459 4.4736 1.8296 BF 18.3076 40.0562 53.5093

The zoom lens of the first embodiment is designed to take values for each of the formulae (1) to (3) that have been given above:

f3/fw=1.063   (1)

|f4|/ft=0.136   (2)

n1−n2=0.386   (3)

Embodiment 2

A second embodiment of the enhanced variable power zoom lens according to the present invention consists of the foremost or first lens group G1 of positive refractivity, the second lens group G2 of negative refractivity, the third lens group G3 of positive refractivity, the fourth lens group G4 of negative refractivity, and the fifth lens group G5 of negative refractivity arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object.

The first lens group G1 consists of a composite lens of a negative meniscus lens piece L1 having its convex surface directed toward the object and a double-convex lens piece L2, and a positive meniscus lens L3 having its convex surface directed toward the object.

The second lens group G2 consists of a negative meniscus lens L4 having its convex surface directed toward the object, a double-concave lens L5, a double-convex lens L6, and a negative meniscus lens L7 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object. The negative meniscus lens L4, positioned the closest to the object, of all the lens pieces in the second lens group G2 is a composite aspherical lens having its surface closer to the object made aspherical in shape.

The third lens group G3 consists of a positive meniscus lens L8 having its convex surface directed toward the object, a composite lens consisting of a double-convex lens piece L9 and a negative meniscus lens piece L10 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane, and a composite lens consisting of a negative meniscus lens piece L11 having its convex surface directed toward the object and a double-convex lens piece L12 arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object.

The positive meniscus lens L8, positioned the closest to the object, of all the lens pieces in the third lens group G3 is a glass molded aspherical lens that has both the front and rear major surfaces made aspherical in shape. The double-convex lens piece L9 is a glass molded aspherical lens that has its front major surface made aspheric in shape. Correcting an image blur due to a shake of photographer's hands is conducted by moving the composite lens of the double-convex lens piece L9 and the negative meniscus lens piece L10 in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

The aperture stop is right behind the positive meniscus lens L8 positioned the closest to the object, of all the lens pieces in the third lens group G3.

The fourth lens group G4 consists of a double-convex lens L13 closer to the object and a double-concave lens L14 positioned behind it. The double-concave lens L14, positioned the closest to the image plane, of all the lens pieces in the fourth lens group G4 is a glass molded aspherical lens that has its rear surface made aspherical in shape.

The fifth lens group G5 consists of a double-convex lens L15, a composite lens consisting of a double-concave lens piece L16 and a double-convex lens piece L17, and a double-convex lens L18 arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object.

The zoom lens of the second embodiment is implemented as expressed by the numerical data as follows:

f=18.4727 to 193.6981

F No.=3.52 to 6.49

2ω=78.56 to 8.16

The zoom lens of the second embodiment is represented by the factors, namely, radius of curvature r, thickness (distance between lens surfaces) d, refractive indices, nd and vd, as given as follows (any surface number with a suffix of an asterisk (*) is for an aspherical surface):

Surface Number r d nd vd Object Plane ∞ (d0)  1 130.1822 1.5000 1.90366 31.31  2 70.3192 8.0000 1.49700 81.61  3 −618.3880 0.2000  4 67.1874 6.0000 1.61800 63.39  5 355.9279 (d5)  6* 78.4467 0.2000 1.51460 49.96  7 51.8370 1.2000 1.90366 31.31  8 14.0622 7.7373  9 −21.1050 0.9000 1.83400 37.34 10 75.2303 0.3731 11 45.7447 3.6000 1.92286 20.88 12 −26.8250 1.4978 13 −17.7689 0.8000 1.83481 42.72 14 −32.1245 (d14) 15* 23.2369 2.5000 1.61881 63.85 16* 500.0000 2.0000 17 (Aperture Stop) ∞ 3.0000 18* 52.1695 3.0000 1.61881 63.85 19 −23.8364 1.0000 1.80809 22.76 20 −38.5827 2.0746 21 44.7975 0.8000 1.90366 31.31 22 13.6368 4.5000 1.56883 56.04 23 −33.1024 (d23) 24 69.4378 2.2000 1.80809 22.76 25 −28.7775 0.8000 1.82080 42.71 26* 18.2404 (d26) 27 124.7143 2.4000 1.49700 81.61 28 −29.7638 1.1000 29 −22.8912 1.0000 1.83481 42.72 30 19.4397 3.8000 1.51680 64.20 31 −121.9600 0.2000 32 28.8664 3.7000 1.60562 43.71 33 −500.0000 (BF)

The zoom lens of the second embodiment has the aspheric surfaces each of which is characterized by a coefficient as given below:

Surface Number k A4 A6 A8 A10 6 0.0000 1.28933E−05 −1.52071E−08 −3.90660E−11 6.69323E−13 15 −0.8659 2.48260E−05 2.75427E−07 −3.35843E−09 5.70805E−11 16 0.0000 4.56781E−05 2.93462E−07 −3.64965E−09 6.44333E−11 18 0.0000 −1.30798E−05 3.93669E−09 6.54017E−11 −7.11351E−13 26 0.0000 −7.16565E−06 −3.20200E−08 −1.39534E−09 1.50295E−11

The zoom lens of the second embodiment, when in infinity focus, has the lens surfaces of the lens pieces variably distanced as follows:

Wide-angle End Intermediate Range Telephoto End f 18.4727 69.9995 193.6981 d0 ∞ ∞ ∞ d5 0.9000 36.5480 65.6130 d14 24.7181 7.3691 4.0245 d23 3.0460 5.1714 1.0000 d26 6.7531 4.6278 8.7992 BF 13.6198 36.0530 49.4455

The zoom lens of the second embodiment, when in proximity focus (i.e., upon proximity photographing as close as 0.5 meters to the object), has the lens surfaces of the lens pieces variably distanced as follows:

Wide-angle End Intermediate Range Telephoto End f 18.1240 59.9839 110.4075 d0 384.8810 344.1490 305.0380 d5 0.9000 36.5480 65.6130 d14 24.7181 7.3691 4.0245 d23 3.3285 6.9987 7.6876 d26 6.4706 2.8005 2.1116 BF 13.6198 36.0530 49.4455

The zoom lens of the second embodiment is designed to take values for each of the formulae (1) to (3) that have been given above:

f3/fw=1.053   (1)

|f4|/ft=0.157   (2)

n1−n2=0.335   (3)

Embodiment 3

A third embodiment of the enhanced variable power zoom lens according to the present invention consists of the foremost or first lens group G1 of positive refractivity, the second lens group G2 of negative refractivity, the third lens group G3 of positive refractivity, the fourth lens group G4 of negative refractivity, and the fifth lens group G5 of positive refractivity arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object.

The first lens group G1 consists of a composite lens of a negative meniscus lens piece L1 having its convex surface directed toward the object and a double-convex lens piece L2, and a positive meniscus lens L3 having its convex surface directed toward the object.

The second lens group G2 consists of a negative meniscus lens L4 having its convex surface directed toward the object, a negative meniscus lens L5 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane, a double-convex lens L6, and a negative meniscus lens L7 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object. The negative meniscus lens L5 in the second lens group G2 is a glass molded aspherical lens having its front surface closer to the object and its rear surface closer to the image filed made aspherical in shape.

The third lens group G3 consists of a double-convex lens L8, a negative meniscus lens L9 having its convex surface directed toward the object, a composite lens consisting of a double-convex lens piece L10 and a negative meniscus lens piece L11 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane, and a composite lens consisting of a negative meniscus lens piece L12 having its convex surface directed toward the object and a double-convex lens piece L13 arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object. The positive meniscus lens L8, positioned the closest to the object, of all the lens pieces in the third lens group G3 is a glass molded aspherical lens that has both the front and rear major surfaces made aspherical in shape. Correcting an image blur due to a shake of photographer's hands is conducted by moving the composite lens of the double-convex lens piece L10 and the negative meniscus lens piece L11 in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

The aperture stop is right behind the negative meniscus lens L9 and closer to the image plane.

The fourth lens group G4 has a composite lens consisting of a double-convex lens piece L14 closer to the object and a double-concave lens piece L15 positioned behind it. The double-concave lens L15, positioned the closest to the image plane, of all the lens pieces in the fourth lens group G4 is a glass molded aspherical lens that has its rear surface made aspherical in shape.

The fifth lens group G5 consists of a double-convex lens L16, a composite lens consisting of a double-concave lens piece L17 and a double-convex lens piece L18, and a double-convex lens L19 arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object.

The zoom lens of the third embodiment is implemented as expressed by the numerical data as follows:

f=18.4635 to 193.6592

F No.=3.62 to 6.52

2ω=78.51 to 8.25

The zoom lens of the third embodiment is represented by the factors, namely, radius of curvature r, thickness (distance between lens surfaces) d, refractive indices, nd and vd, as given as follows (any surface number with a suffix of an asterisk (*) is for an aspherical surface) :

Surface Number r d nd vd Object Plane ∞ (d0)  1 122.8583 1.5000 1.90366 31.31  2 63.6327 8.0000 1.49700 81.61  3 −479.7631 0.2000  4 60.0702 6.0000 1.61800 63.39  5 326.6006 (d5)  6 83.7787 1.0000 1.80420 46.50  7 12.3144 7.4805  8* −22.1241 1.0000 1.73077 40.50  9* −64.4650 0.2000 10 215.4697 3.1478 1.92286 20.88 11 −30.2010 1.5773 12 −17.6709 0.8000 1.83481 42.72 13 −33.1232 (d13) 14* 17.2167 4.0000 1.61881 63.85 15* −125.5742 0.2000 16 48.4757 1.0000 1.77250 49.62 17 19.0841 3.3000 18 (Aperture Stop) ∞ 1.5000 19* 45.5870 2.8000 1.61881 63.85 20 −27.0285 1.0000 1.80518 25.46 21 −49.9440 1.7247 22 32.4233 0.8000 1.90366 31.31 23 15.2360 3.6847 1.51680 64.20 24 −27.5987 (d24) 25 81.6411 2.2000 1.80809 22.76 26 −24.5463 0.8000 1.82080 42.71 27* 17.6072 (d27) 28 57.2163 2.1666 1.48749 70.44 29 −86.5299 1.0000 30 −27.0636 1.1000 1.80610 33.27 31 29.0154 4.0000 1.51742 52.15 32 −58.1335 0.2000 33 34.7156 3.1887 1.62004 36.30 34 −500.0000 (BF)

The zoom lens of the third embodiment has the aspheric surfaces each of which is characterized by a coefficient as given below:

Surface Number k A4 A6 A8 A10 8 0.0000 7.25755E−05 −1.27843E−06 7.32783E−09 −2.81756E−11 9 0.0000 3.49690E−05 −1.24580E−06 6.63675E−09 −2.34217E−11 14 −1.5994 2.13130E−05 4.89855E−08 −2.49609E−10 −2.54671E−12 15 0.0000 2.60502E−05 −1.46189E−08 3.24684E−10 −8.07360E−12 19 0.0000 −9.20242E−06 8.57474E−09 −1.54371E−10 1.03899E−12 27 0.0000 −9.97587E−06 −4.27259E−08 −8.86898E−10 1.03922E−11

The zoom lens of the third embodiment, when in infinity focus, has the lens surfaces of the lens pieces variably distanced as follows:

Wide-angle End Intermediate Range Telephoto End f 18.4635 69.9769 193.6592 d0 ∞ ∞ ∞ d5 0.9000 35.4429 58.6609 d13 26.2891 7.2099 2.5000 d24 4.5393 6.1188 1.0612 d27 6.2013 4.6218 9.6795 BF 4.5543 35.0496 54.5230

The zoom lens of the third embodiment, when in proximity focus (i.e., upon proximity photographing as close as 0.5 meters to the object), has the lens surfaces of the lens pieces variably distanced as follows:

Wide-angle End Intermediate Range Telephoto f 18.1515 60.5992 113.6489 d0 381.9470 345.9890 308.0110 d5 0.9000 35.4429 58.6609 d13 26.2891 7.2099 2.5000 d24 4.8281 8.1797 8.4976 d27 5.9125 2.5609 2.2431 BF 14.5543 35.0496 54.5230

The zoom lens of the third embodiment is designed to take values for each of the formulae (1) to (3) that have been given above:

f3/fw=1.112   (1)

|f4|/f t=0.142   (2)

n1−n2=0.387   (3)

Embodiment 4

A fourth embodiment of the enhanced variable power zoom lens according to the present invention consists of the foremost or first lens group G1 of positive refractivity, the second lens group G2 of negative refractivity, the third lens group G3 of positive refractivity, the fourth lens group G4 of negative refractivity, and the fifth lens group G5 of positive refractivity arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object.

The first lens group G1 consists of a composite lens of a negative meniscus lens piece L1 having its convex surface directed toward the object and a double-convex lens piece L2, and a positive meniscus lens L3 having its convex surface directed toward the object.

The second lens group G2 consists of a negative meniscus lens L4 having its convex surface directed toward the object, a double-concave lens L5, a double-convex lens L6, and a negative meniscus lens L7 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object. The negative meniscus lens L4 positioned the closest to the object, of all the lens pieces in the second lens group G2 is a composite aspherical lens having its front surface closer to the object made aspherical in shape.

An aperture stop is right ahead of the third lens group G3 and closer to the object than the same. A design with the aperture stop in a position closer to the object than the third lens group G3 facilitates reduction in a diameter of the upfront lens of the zoom lens.

The third lens group G3 consists of a double-convex lens L8, a negative meniscus lens L9 having its convex surface directed toward the object, a composite lens consisting of a double-convex lens piece L10 and a negative meniscus lens piece L11 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane, and a composite lens consisting of a negative meniscus lens piece L12 having its convex surface directed toward the object and a double-convex lens piece L13 arranged in sequence from a position closer to the object. The double-convex lens L8, positioned the closest to the object, of all the lens pieces in the third lens group G3 is a glass molded aspherical lens that has both its front major surface closer to the object and its rear major surface closer to the image plane made aspherical in shape. The double-convex lens L10 is a glass molded aspherical lens that has its front surface made aspherical in shape. Correcting an image blur due to a shake of photographer's hands is conducted by moving the composite lens of the double-convex lens piece L10 and the negative meniscus lens piece L11 in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

The fourth lens group G4 consists of a positive meniscus lens L14 closer to the object and having its convex surface directed toward the image plane and a double-concave lens piece L15 positioned behind it. The double-concave lens L15, positioned the closest to the image plane, of all the lens pieces in the fourth lens group G4 is a composite aspherical lens that has its rear surface made aspherical in shape.

The fifth lens group G5 consists of a double-convex lens L16 and a negative meniscus lens L17 having its convex surface directed toward the image plane.

The zoom lens of the fourth embodiment is implemented as expressed by the numerical data as follows:

f=18.4656 to 193.7618

F No.=3.58 to 6.47

2ω=78.45 to 8.20

The zoom lens of the fourth embodiment is represented by the factors, namely, radius of curvature r, thickness (distance between lens surfaces) d, refractive indices, nd and vd, as given as follows (any surface number with a suffix of an asterisk (*) is for an aspherical surface):

Surface Number r d nd vd Object Plane ∞ (d0)  1 141.2619 1.5000 1.90366 31.31  2 71.0032 7.3049 1.49700 81.61  3 −403.3371 0.2000  4 60.9852 5.6822 1.61800 63.39  5 232.8153 (d5)  6* 78.7650 0.2000 1.51460 49.96  7 55.0310 1.2000 1.88300 40.80  8 13.4213 7.6368  9 −21.7620 0.9000 1.83400 37.34 10 448.6204 0.2000 11 52.5441 3.2720 1.92286 20.88 12 −29.2978 1.0276 13 −18.4015 0.8000 1.88300 40.80 14 −36.5889 (d14) 15 (Aperture Stop) ∞ 1.0000 16* 20.6887 4.8000 1.61881 63.85 17* −40.3367 0.9389 18 −42.9919 1.0000 1.74400 44.79 19 −120.0000 1.6300 20* 36.9042 3.3000 1.59201 67.02 21 −26.0822 0.8000 1.84666 23.78 22 −37.7319 0.3340 23 108.8218 0.8000 1.90366 31.31 24 13.3365 5.1053 1.51742 52.15 25 −22.9306 (d25) 26 −8357.4904 2.2000 1.72825 28.32 27 −18.3036 0.7000 1.69680 55.46 28 15.6342 0.2500 1.51460 49.96 29* 16.7161 (d29) 30 23.7440 4.7241 1.48749 70.44 31 −37.2401 0.6221 32 −25.8488 1.0000 1.88300 40.80 33 −185.0333 (BF)

The zoom lens of the fourth embodiment has the aspheric surfaces each of which is characterized by a coefficient as given below:

Surface Number k A4 A6 A8 A10 6 0.0000 2.08367E−05 −4.57755E−08 1.75054E−10 1.98364E−13 16 −1.6344 1.80716E−05 2.70181E−08 1.74662E−09 −3.38851E−12 17 0.0000 4.18327E−05 −5.69981E−08 2.75644E−09 −9.39699E−12 20 0.0000 −1.94427E−05 5.94040E−08 −1.82677E−09 1.34942E−11 29 0.0000 −2.42872E−05 3.00275E−07 −1.46151E−08 1.38187E−10

The zoom lens of the fourth embodiment, when in infinity focus, has the lens surfaces of the lens pieces variably distanced as follows:

Wide-angle End Intermediate Range Telephoto End f 18.4656 69.9889 193.7618 d0 ∞ ∞ ∞ d5 1.0000 34.1618 64.2114 d14 24.0788 6.1436 1.7000 d25 1.4000 4.5190 1.8070 d29 9.7948 6.6758 9.3878 BF 17.9032 39.2179 51.8628

The zoom lens of the fourth embodiment, when in proximity focus (i.e., upon proximity photographing as close as 0.5 meters to the object), has the lens surfaces of the lens pieces variably distanced as follows:

Wide-angle End Intermediate Range Telephoto End f 18.1467 60.0008 104.7262 d0 386.6960 350.1550 311.9050 d5 1.0000 34.1618 64.2114 d14 24.0788 6.1436 1.7000 d25 1.6235 6.1137 8.6097 d29 9.5713 5.0811 2.5851 BF 17.9032 39.2179 51.8628

The zoom lens of the fourth embodiment is designed to take values for each of the formulae (1) to (3) that have been given above:

f3/fw=1.010   (1)

|f4|/ft=0.126   (2)

n1−n2=0.386   (3) 

1. An enhanced variable power zoom lens adapted to have the foremost or first lens group of positive refractivity, the second lens group of negative refractivity, the third lens group of positive refractivity, the fourth lens group of negative refractivity, and the fifth lens group arranged in this sequence from a position closer to the object, a distance between each pair of the adjacent lens groups being varied during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, each lens group coming closer to the object at the telephoto end than at the wide-angle end, the third lens group and the fourth lens group separating the farthest apart from each other at the intermediate zooming range, and the fourth lens group being moved closer to the image plane for shifting from infinity focusing to proximity focusing.
 2. The enhanced variable power zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the fifth lens group exhibits negative refractivity.
 3. The enhanced variable power zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the zoom lens meets requirements as expressed in the following formulae: 0.7<f3/fw<2.0 0.07<|f4|/ft<0.3 where f3 is a focal length of the third lens group, f4 is the focal length of the fourth lens group, fw is the focal length of the entire optics at the wide-angle end, and ft is the focal length of the entire optics at the telephoto end.
 4. The enhanced variable power zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the third lens group has a composite lens in a position the closest to the image plane, a composition interface of the composite lens being a divergent surface; and the zoom lens meets a requirement as expressed in the following formula: n1−n2>0.25 where n1 is a refractive index of a negative lens piece of the composite lens at d-line, and n2 is a refractive index of a positive lens piece of the composite lens at d-line.
 5. The enhanced variable power zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the fourth lens group has a composite lens of positive and negative lens pieces, and at least one of surfaces of the composite lens is made aspherical in shape. 